Bendy

 

Mandukasana - Frog Pose

Becoming bendy in yoga so that life will not break you.

Pre et Après

 

Ardha Kapotasana - Half Pigeon Pose

Pre or après (ski) body love. 🎿 🩵💛🩷

Stretch for success

 

Skandasana - Skiiers Lunge

Parents: we are elite athletes - yoga, stretch and strengthen, daily for mental clarity and to avoid injury.

F off

Setu Bandhasana - Bridge Pose
RX For your fatigue.

It is unwise and misguided to permanently rely on one’s therapist, friend, parent, spouse… —  yoga is always there for us. 

Pining 🌲

Vrksasana - Tree Pose

This was my favorite pose for many years when I first discovered the practice of yoga in my University days.

Upon completion of an insanely hectic week, it is natural to pine for the long-gone, youthful lingering days of nothingness, but, sigh, those days are decidedly behind us thanks to making our dreams come true.

Early riser

Virabhadrasana II - Warrior 2 Pose

Surya Namaskar - Sun Salutation

To each era its own rhythm and organization: I may rise at 5am regularly now, but I was not astir so early when I frequently awoke throughout the night with bébés - or in my twenties with other motives and goals!

Snake oil 🐍

Malasana - Garland Pose, Low Squat, reaching forward
Self-actualize.

Watch your step - it is (almost) all snake oil out there. I say be (very) skeptical of any THING or ANYONE - “authority, expert” - OUTSIDE of yourself promising YOUR self improvement; only the self can self-actualize.

LBD NBD

 

Koundinyasana II - Flying Splits Pose 2, Preparation
Pausing here often during Vinyasa.
This is an accurate representation of what I generally wear to yoga: dark leggings, a lightweight, medium tone half-length undertank, and a looser (often grey) soft top tucked in.
With a rose quartz colored cotton mat.

Color TONALITY is important when dressing - take into account how much CONTRAST you do or do not have regarding your skin, eyes, and hair (and shade changes due to age, health status, tanned skin, sun-kissed tresses …). 

Hint: Not everyone looks great in black. 🌞 🖤

Poise

Ashta Chandrasana - High Lunge, arms extended forward 
Let us train for the strength and control to improve our posture. 

By refining our physical comportment we will, in turn, upgrade numerous facets of our lives (or so I have been told 😉… still a sloucher over here 😬).

Parent handbook

 

Utthita Parsva Konasana - Extended Side Angle Pose
You are right - it is not easy. 

Parenting is the epitome of primal living. It is unyieldingly petrifying, thrilling and rewarding. Good luck! 🍀 

Vinyasa

 

Vasisthasana Vinyasa - Side Plank Dance
🪩 Move in vinyasa manner to find your groove; embrace certain elements (and omit others) to make the practice your own. ☃️ 

❄️❤️Combine the things you love.❤️❄️

Noisy

 

Halasana - Plow Pose
Quiet.

I am going deaf. Food noise, supplement noise, workout noise, cosmetics and aesthetics noise - let us tune out, turn OFF, ALL of the so-called health and beauty advice.

Flavors

Vasisthasana Janu - Side Plank Pose on Knees

With endless iterations of every asana, get a sampling through your vinyasa - move fluidly through numerous variations to discover a new flavor.🍦 

Dip, dip, dip, FRY, bake…
Crispy chicken tenders are THE crowd pleaser - so triple the recipe!!!

Always playing with homemade frosting. 🧁 

Passion

 

Vasisthasana Padmasana - Side Plank Bound Half Lotus

 Jealousy as a clue when excavating your passion. 🔭 ⛏️

Bye bye, Bra

I wore a more traditional bralette today for my AM movement and, boy, did I regret it. It was sweet with lace, constructed from organic cotton and seemed benign enough, but I was suffocating by the hours end with that tight-ish band encircling my ribcage and constricting my lung expansion, I couldn’t wait to rip it off (and toss it out)!

‘Burn’ any BRA that restricts - strangles! - your diaphragm. Wear soft, little camisoles without the throttling punishment of asphyxiation, or simply go bare, and fully breathe in life once again! 

Stuck in the middle with you

Parsva Upavistha Konasana - Seated Side Straddle Pose
Your way or it’s just a fake way.

Who you are is how you lead and your strengths of character are applicable in any situation - just bring your best self (and in my case, a hand written note). 💌

Full intensity

 

Prasarita Padottanasana - Wide Legged Forward Fold, “Intense” Leg Stretch Pose
So make it intense.

What are you?

 

Upavistha Konasana - Seated Straddle Pose with block
Force and berate yourself for what you cannot do in order to stay stagnant and stuck (and, possibly, injured.)

You cannot be everything, you will have to pick and choose — and the sooner the better (besides, it isn’t written in stone — at least, not yet). ☠️ 👻

🌈Arc🧚‍♀️

 

Parsvottanasana - Pyramid Pose
I am having a ‘put your head down and work’ type of week. 

🌈The rhythm of the day, the arc of the week, the ebb and flow of the month, and the seasons of the year. Looking ahead and zooming out at your calendar is how you are able to ‘put your head down’ and (enjoy) work(ing) unremittingly - because you plan (and look forward to) when you’ll be coming up for air. 👙⛵️🌞

Mow.

Mow some more.

Completely clear out 4 bedrooms.

Daily lunch for 4.

Witch’s foot: connection to the supernatural & a need for spiritual protection

 

Tadasana - Mountain Pose
Let us focus on our feet and hand health. Open, close and activate the fingers. Lift, spread and control the movement of the toes.  

Somehow I have been rolling onto the outside edges of my feet when I walk these days. Upon further investigation it was brought to my attention that ‘witch’s foot’ is from forging my own path and going my own way. Guilty as charged! But pain there suggests extreme self-protection: guardedness and detachment (from the mainstream). AKA taking my individuality too far?

 PS: Excessive supination can also be exacerbated from muscle strengthening.

Cookies, socks and winter activities - oh my 😝

Parsva Urdhva Hastasana - Upward Salute Side Bend Pose
Can you straighten your arms? All the way?

I am back in the kitchen with verve baking up a storm once again. Is it my new “easy bake oven” (air fryer)? Or the fact that my youngest is now three and slightly less underfoot? It is both I am sure, and other factors, too. (Chilly weather💨.) Whatever it is sparking my creative joy, I will run with it…as do my children and so should you! 🍪

Brownies, banana bread, oatmeal raisin balls, yogurt cake, sugar cookies, cream cheese frosting… biscuits, french fries, quiche, pigs in a blanket, pizza, grilled cheese, quesadillas, roasted (air fried) everything and the list goes on… I kid you not, these kids actually expect me to feed them EVERY DAY!!! 🤪

My daughter knits socks.  🧶 🧦 For MY feet. 😍🥰

& these adorable and refreshing Gen Alpha kids also sing, tinker on the piano, play violin, craft, craft, craft and, obviously, level-up our nestle chips. 🎻🌸🎉

Ladybug

 

Bhujapidasana - Insect Pose, Shoulder Press Pose. A mini floaty for confidence in poses that fly. 🐞 

Start somewhere.

Then refine.

Upgrade eventually.